New Chapters

This is the end of another chapter of my life. This Friday is my last at the axle plant where I've worked for almost five years. At one time it would have been viewed as foolish to voluntarily leave a company like Ford, but times have changed. Most of use who have the sheepskin hanging on the wall don't see the benefits of sticking with a large company anymore. I've always been the wandering sort anyway. Perhaps it was my Navy Brat upbringing, but I get restless after a few years of doing the same thing. Besides, I've got one of those opportunities that don't come my way every day. I'm going to work for Hensley Mfg., sort of a family affair. Hensley makes and sells products for the RV enthusiast, so it's something that I've got an interest in already, having owned a travel trailer for six years now. It's a great way to spend family time and a good source for novel material.

My father is also embarking on a new adventure. He's taking the GM buyout, selling the house and all his and my mom's posessions, buying a larger trailer, and hitting the road. The wanderlust seems to be deeply embedded in all of us. I didn't realize just how much I'd miss having him nearby until we were packing up from turkey camp last April. As I watched the President of the Old Doe Hunters Association load up his trailer, I realized it could be our very last time together at Wounded Doe (we have colorful names for all our camping locations). I pretended to be busy at the opposite side of my trailer as I fought to control my emotions, something that seems to come with age and the realization that things like fathers aren't, by any means, permanent. It also happened to be the first time both my kids were along for hunting camp. A sort of passing of the torch.

I'm happy for my parents. They're still young and have an opportunity to see the country, as free as anyone could hope to be. I think I'm alot like my dad, in that I see no benefit in being tied down to a large company just for the so called security. After all, he joined the Navy in 1964 just to avoid the assembly lines. For that move I am eternally grateful. I loved being a Navy brat and fully intend to get some of that into a novel someday.

We're off to Gettysbury Saturday. I love history and am hoping my children understand what it means to stand in a spot where 40,ooo men and boys spilled their blood in a few short days. Life is precious, as is freedom. God gave us this gift and it is not to be wasted on things or money or other worldly pursuits. After they appreciate that, we're off to Hershey to experience life a little fuller--in the form of chocolate of course.

Happy 4th. Live for the moment.

Dark and Stormy Report

Okay, let's get back in the saddle. Summer's here! I'm a real MBA graduate and now have time to write again! I kicked off my freedom by attending the Dark and Stormy Nights Conference in Chicago. It was a nice, cozy (no pun intended) conference. I was mostly interested in the presentations by forensic experts and Chicago cops. You know, they sound just like the Chicago cops in all those 1930's movies. Weird.

I've jumped back into my mystery, which I never really began. It's called "Murder on the Side" and will be the first of my River Bend Mystery series. I love northern Michigan, so that's where I set my novel, right on the Au Sable River, though I've renamed it the Grayling River.

I'm back! I'm not any better, but I'm back!